American Express Co (American Express Co) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

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American Express Co Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Calculation

Depreciation is a present expense that accounts for the past cost of an asset that is now providing benefits.

Depletion and amortization are synonyms for depreciation.

Generally:
The term depreciation is used when discussing man made tangible assets
The term depletion is used when discussing natural tangible assets
The term amortization is used when discussing intangible assets

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Dec. 2023 adds up the quarterly data reported by the company within the most recent 12 months, which was $1,651 Mil.

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

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American Express Co  (NYSE:AXP) Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Explanation

One of the key tenets of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is the matching principle. The matching principle states that companies should report associated costs and benefits at the same time.

For example:

If a company buys a $300 million cruise ship in 1982 and then sells tickets to passengers for the next 30 years, the company should not report a $300 million expense in 1982 and then ticket sales for 1982 through 2012. Instead, the company should spread the purchase price of the ship (the cost) over the same time period it sells tickets (the benefit).

To create income statements that meet the matching principle, accountants use an expense called depreciation.

So, instead of reporting a $300 million purchase expense in 1982, the company might:

Report a $30 million depreciation expense in 1982, 1983, 1984...and every year after that for the 30 years the company expects to sell tickets to passengers on this cruise ship.

To calculate depreciation, a company must make estimates and choices such as:

The cost of the asset
The useful life of the asset
The salvage value of the asset at the end of its useful life
And a way of spreading the cost of the asset to match the time when the asset provides benefits

The range of different ways of spreading the cost under GAAP accounting is too long to list. However, public companies in the United States explain their depreciation choices to shareholders in a note to their financial statements. It is critical that investors read this note. Investors can find this note in the company's 10-K.

Past depreciation expenses accumulate on the balance sheet. Most public companies choose not to show this contra asset account on the balance sheet they present to shareholders. Instead, they simply show a single item. This single asset item may be marked Net. Such as Property, Plant, and Equipment - Net. It is actually the asset account netted against the contra asset account.

A contra asset account is an account that offsets an asset account. So, for example a company might have:

Property, Plant, and Equipment - Gross: $150 million
Accumulated Depreciation: $120 million
Property, Plant, and Equipment - Net: $30 million

In this case, the only item likely to be shown on the balance sheet is Property, Plant, and Equipment - Net. This is the cost of the company's property, plant, and equipment (asset account) minus the accumulated depreciation (the contra asset account). It means the company's assets cost $150 million, the company has reported $120 million in depreciation expense over the years, and the company is now reporting the assets have a book value of $30 million.

It is possible for a company to have fully depreciated assets on its balance sheet. This means the company's estimate of the useful life of the asset was shorter than the asset's actual useful life. As a result, the asset - although it is still being used - is carried on the balance sheet at its salvage value.

This is a reminder that depreciation involves estimates and choices. It is not an infallible process.

Companies do not have cash layout for depreciation. Therefore, depreciation is added back in the cash flow statement.

Although depreciation is not a cash cost, it is a real business cost because the company has to pay for the fixed assets when it purchases them. Both Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger hate the idea of EDITDA because depreciation is not included as an expense. Warren Buffett even jokingly said We prefer earnings before everything when criticizing the abuse of EDITDA.

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Be Aware

Depreciation estimates make the calculation of net income susceptible to management's accounting choices. These choices can be either overly aggressive or overly conservative.

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American Express Co Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Related Terms

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Operating Income Operating Margin % EBITDA

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American Express Co (American Express Co) Business Description

Executives

Jeffrey C Campbell	officer: EVP, Chief Financial Officer	4333 AMON CARTER BLVD, FORT WORTH TX 76155
Douglas E. Buckminster	officer: Pres, Int'l Consumer & SBS	200 VESEY STREET, M/S 01-50-01, NEW YORK NY 10285
Clayton Walter Joseph Iii	director	C/O APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, INC., 9 WEST 57TH STREET, 43RD FLOOR, NEW YORK NY 10019
Caillec Christophe Le	officer: Chief Financial Officer	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Monique Herena	officer: Chief Human Resources Officer	225 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10286
Howard Grosfield	officer: President, U.S. Consumer Serv	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Quinn Jessica Lieberman	officer: Controller	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Raymond Joabar	officer: CRO and Pres., GRBC	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Denise Pickett	officer: CRO and President, GRBC Group	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Anna Marrs	officer: Pres., Global Comm. Services	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Deborah P Majoras	director	ONE PROCTER & GAMBLE PLAZA, CINCINNATI OH 45202
Rafael Marquez	officer: President, International Card	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Theodore Leonsis	director	WASHINGTON CAPITALS, 627 N GLEBE RD SUITE 850, ARLINGTON VA 22203
Stephen J Squeri	officer: EVP, Chief Information Officer	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285
Anre D Williams	officer: Pres. Global Merchant Services	200 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK NY 10285